Wearable electronic device comprising rigid flexible printed circuit board

Abstract

A wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a housing including a metal frame, a display within the housing, a bracket within the housing, including a side surface facing an inner surface of the metal frame, a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion located between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket, and an electronic circuitry on the rigid portion, wherein the rigid portion includes a first portion under the electronic circuitry, and a second portion extending from a portion of the first portion toward the display and disposed on the side surface of the bracket so that the rigid portion is supported by the bracket, and wherein the second portion includes a non-conductive portion arranged with respect to a slot between the metal frame and a portion of the display, the slot used to radiate a signal to an external electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable electronic device comprising:
 a housing including a metal frame;   a display within the housing;   a bracket within the housing, including a side surface facing an inner surface of the metal frame;   a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion located between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket; and   an electronic circuitry on the rigid portion,   wherein the rigid portion includes:
 a first portion under the electronic circuitry, and 
 a second portion extending from a portion of the first portion toward the display and disposed on the side surface of the bracket so that the rigid portion is supported by the bracket, and 
   wherein the second portion includes a non-conductive portion arranged with respect to a slot between the metal frame and a portion of the display, the slot used to radiate a radio frequency signal (RF signal) to external electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second portion forms a first edge of the rigid portion facing the display by extending from the portion of the first portion toward the display, and   wherein the non-conductive portion extends from the first edge of the rigid portion toward the first portion.   
     
     
         3 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes first conductive patterns formed between the first portion and the non-conductive portion of the second portion, and   wherein the first conductive patterns have a shape protruding toward the first portion when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rigid portion.   
     
     
         4 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the first conductive patterns include a first section, a second section, and a third section connecting the first section and the second section,   wherein the third section is farther from the first edge of the rigid portion than the first section and the second section, and   wherein a length of the third section is longer than the first section and the second section.   
     
     
         5 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the rigid portion is formed of a plurality of layers,   wherein the non-conductive portion of the second portion includes a first non-conductive region of a first layer and a second non-conductive region of a second layer overlapping the first non-conductive region,   wherein a first conductive region is formed in the first layer of the first portion, and   wherein the first conductive patterns are formed between the first conductive region and the first non-conductive region.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a printed circuit board under the bracket,   wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes a connection portion disposed on the printed circuit board and an extension portion extending from the connection portion and disposed between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket,   wherein the rigid portion is a first rigid portion,   wherein the electronic circuitry is a first electronic circuitry,   wherein the extension portion includes the first rigid portion and a second rigid portion,   wherein the first rigid portion is located between the connection portion and the second rigid portion,   wherein the wearable electronic device includes a second electronic circuitry on the second rigid portion, and   wherein the first conductive patterns extend from the connection portion through the first rigid portion to the second rigid portion and are electrically connected to the second electronic circuitry.   
     
     
         7 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes at least one second conductive pattern extending from the second rigid portion through the first rigid portion to the connection portion,   wherein the at least one second conductive pattern of the first rigid portion is formed in the non-conductive portion of the second portion, and   wherein the at least one second conductive pattern is electrically connected to a   ground of the printed circuit board through the connection portion.   
     
     
         8 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second conductive pattern includes a plurality of second conductive patterns. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the second conductive patterns are formed on a third layer of the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising a switch on the printed circuit board, the switch configured to selectively electrically connect one of the second conductive patterns to the ground of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein each of ends of the second conductive patterns located in the second rigid portion is electrically open. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second conductive patterns include a first pattern and a second pattern,   wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes a bead on the second rigid portion, and   wherein the bead electrically connects an end of the first pattern and an end of the second pattern.   
     
     
         13 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the second conductive patterns of the first rigid portion extend parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the first conductive patterns of the rigid portion extend parallel to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 1   wherein the rigid portion is formed of a plurality of layers, and   wherein an area of the non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of layers in the second portion is larger than an area of the non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of layers in the first portion.   
     
     
         16 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rigid portion, the non-conductive portion of the second portion overlaps the slot. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive portion of the second portion is located at least partially within the slot. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the rigid portion includes a second edge opposite to the first edge formed by the second portion, and   wherein the rigid portion is inclined so that the first edge is located further inside the housing than the second edge.   
     
     
         19 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket includes a recess formed on the side surface and a peripheral portion of the recess,   wherein the electronic circuitry on the first portion is received in the recess,   wherein the second portion is disposed on the peripheral portion, and   wherein the electronic circuitry includes an acoustic sensor.   
     
     
         20 . A wearable electronic device comprising:
 a housing including a metal frame;   a display panel in the housing;   a slot antenna at least partially formed by a gap between the metal frame and the display panel; and   a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion on which an electronic circuitry is disposed and a plurality of conductive traces crossing the rigid portion,   wherein an upper end portion of the rigid portion facing the gap is formed as a fill-cut region that does not contain a conductive material,   wherein the plurality of conductive traces of the rigid portion are formed between a lower end portion of the rigid portion and the fill-cut region, and protrude in a direction from the upper end portion of the rigid portion toward the lower end portion such that an area of the fill-cut region is widened, and   wherein the slot antenna radiates radio waves using the gap extended by the fill-cut region.